South Omaha, Nebraska Shooting Claims Life of 17-Year-Old Student, Sevyn Bellar-White, on Halloween
South Omaha, Nebraska — In the quiet early hours of October 31st, tragedy struck near 36th and Polk Streets when a Halloween gathering turned into a nightmare that would shake the Millard North High School community to its core. Seventeen-year-old Sevyn Bellar-White, a bright and promising student with dreams of graduating in just a few months, was shot outside a house party that had drawn dozens of young people together for what was supposed to be a night of laughter and music. Instead, it became a scene of panic, flashing lights, and sirens.
When Omaha police arrived just before midnight, they found Sevyn lying critically wounded outside the residence. The sound of gunfire had broken the festive energy, sending terrified teenagers running for cover and calling for help. Officers immediately rendered aid, and paramedics rushed Sevyn to a nearby hospital. Despite the efforts of emergency personnel and doctors, he was pronounced dead hours after midnight, his life cut short far too soon.
In the days that followed, investigators worked relentlessly to piece together what had led to the violence. They gathered witness statements, reviewed surveillance footage, and traced communications exchanged before and after the shooting. By Wednesday, their investigation led them across the Missouri River to Council Bluffs, where authorities arrested 18-year-olds Rayquan Bass and Yourhansay Gonzales-Washington. According to Omaha police, Bass now faces charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, and possession of a defaced firearm. Gonzales-Washington is charged with possession of a defaced firearm, tampering with evidence, and accessory to a felony.
For Sevyn’s classmates and teachers, the loss feels unbearable. Millard North Principal Dr. Aaron Bearinger described him as a student who had truly found a home at the school—a young man known for his warmth, kindness, and willingness to help others. Friends said Sevyn was the kind of person who could make anyone laugh, someone who lifted the energy in every room he entered. His teachers remembered him as thoughtful, ambitious, and determined to create a meaningful future for himself.
The news of his passing spread quickly across social media, where messages of heartbreak and remembrance poured in. Students gathered for vigils, holding candles and sharing stories about Sevyn’s humor, his smile, and his big dreams for the future. What was supposed to be his senior year—filled with excitement, college plans, and celebration—has now turned into a period of mourning.
As police continue to investigate the motive behind the shooting, many are left questioning how a disagreement or moment of anger could lead to such irreversible loss. For Sevyn’s family, there are no easy answers—only an unimaginable grief and the echoes of a future stolen too soon.
Sevyn Bellar-White’s name will now be remembered not only by those who loved him but by an entire community that mourns the life he should have had. Rest gently, Sevyn.
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